The course

Art Education is offered as a cooperation between two subject areas – Art and Academic Studies – at the University of Art and Design and at Martin Luther University. The teaching qualification for academically oriented ‘Gymnasium’ secondary schools (comparable with grammar schools in the UK) has a standard course duration of 10 semesters, while the teaching qualification for other secondary schools has a standard course duration of 9 semesters.

125 credit points (or 120 CP as a second subject) are planned for the study of Art Education/teaching qualification for ‘Gymnasium’ secondary schools, while the study of Art Education/teaching qualification for other secondary schools requires 110 CP (or 105 CP as a second subject).
Practical exercises and placement periods at schools must be undertaken for both courses. These are followed by a state examination, the so-called First State Examination. The exam grade is made up of the final examinations (minor contribution) and continuous assessment exams (major contribution), the so-called module examinations. The course of study is made up of modules, which are self-contained course units. There is an examination at the end of each module. Only part of these examination evaluations – together with the grade of the final examinations – is included in the final examination grade.
When the course of study has been successfully completed, the First State Examination is awarded – this is the prerequisite for the second phase of teacher training, i.e. practical preparatory service at schools. This internship is the responsibility of the schools or of the school authorities. Once the Second State Examination has been completed here, graduates are then entitled to teach the two subjects studied (at the University of Art and Design and at Martin Luther University) at ‘Gymnasium’ secondary schools or other secondary schools, as appropriate.

Art Pedagogy

The course of study in Art Pedagogy leads to a ‘Diplom’ degree in Art Pedagogy. The standard duration of the course is ten semesters. The course is not modularised and is organised into a foundation course and a main study period. A preliminary diploma (‘Vordiplom’) is awarded at the end of the foundation course. At the end of the main study period, specialist practical examinations (‘Diplom’ exhibition) are to be taken and a ‘Diplom’ thesis prepared. A practical placement in art pedagogy with a duration of a number of weeks must be completed as part of the main study period. In terms of content, the course of study is divided into two areas that are studied in parallel, with cross-reference between the two areas during the course: The foundation course considers practical and subject-specific fundamentals (Graphic Study of Natural Forms/Nude Drawing) and the fundamentals of design (Sculpture Exercises, Typography/Lettering). Additionally, students deal with the areas of Design, Computers/Media, Perspective, Anatomy, Practice/Studio and Project Work. In the main study period, students study specialist and related subjects (Didactics, Art Studies, History of Architecture and Design, Art Criticism/Curation, Philosophy/Aesthetics and Psychology). Other areas covered include: Start-up/Company Management, Art Management, Didactics and Methods of Art Pedagogy, Museum Pedagogy and General Pedagogy.

Accompanying Subjects in Art Theory

The accompanying subjects in art theory can be taken at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle and at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg. These supplement the range of practical subjects in the course of study:

Didactics of the Fine Arts – Prof. Thomas Michl

Art didactics considers various teaching strategies for art both within schools and outside of the school context, and also investigates the relevant processes and issues. This area is based on individual artistic expression on the one hand, and on experimentation within the framework of practical placement periods at schools on the other hand. The experience obtained is placed in a theoretical context and analysed. At the same time, a continuous comparison is made between one’s own reflections and the broad range of current and historical specialist didactic standpoints and tendencies. In this way, the well-founded integration of one’s own standpoint as part of art-didactic dialogue is facilitated.

Didactics / Practical school exercises – Verena Gruber-Ballehr

Verena Gruber-Ballehr’s course elements focus on the conception and organisation of possible methods of art teaching in schools and outside of the school context. As an active teacher, she is well aware of the specific pedagogical and didactic challenges of everyday school life. Her aim is to combine specialist didactics and art practice and theory in a coherent manner and to implement these concepts in practice in art classes or in projects with children and young adults. Experimentation with various materials plays an important role here. ... Further information (available only in German)

Art Studies / Art History – Regine Rapp M.A.

The aim of the course elements in Art Studies is the investigation of methods and art-historical phenomena. The history and use of different techniques, tools and materials in various fields and media in the fine arts are considered here. Issues regarding the history of style are also dealt with. Teaching of art theory attempts to familiarise students with art-historical and art-theoretical standpoints so that they will not just be aware of the various eras in art history and of theoretical standpoints, but will also be able to place their own artistic practice in the relevant contexts in a theoretically solid manner. ... Further information (available only in German)

Curation, Art Criticism, Art Management – Prof. Susanne Pfleger

Now more than ever before, artists have to deal with issues and problems that appear to have little relation to art itself. Artists’ economic existences themselves and those areas of artistic creation that can or should only be marketed with great difficulty are dependent on artists developing individual strategies for surviving in the marketplace in the long term. Business and legal knowledge and skills in project management and management of one’s own activity are all necessary here. ... Further information (available only in German)

Educational Studies and Pedagogy – Art Pedagogy – Dayana Lau

Dayana Lau’s teaching activity is concerned with basic issues and problems in educational studies. On the one hand, the main concepts in educational studies are investigated from historical and systematic perspectives; on the other hand, the students consider theoretical issues with the aim of analysing and reflecting upon their own pedagogical activity.Additional areas such as Aesthetics, Philosophy, Psychology and Pedagogy can be studied at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle and at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg. Practical placement periods that run for a number of weeks and cooperations with schools and external institutions help to develop social skills and teamwork ability and also allow students to try out their own experience and teaching focal areas in a practical manner. The diversity of artistic and theoretical teaching approaches is presented in seminars, workshops and excursions and is also considered in project work. ... Further information (available only in German)